HISTORY

The founder of Tzu Chi Foundation is Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun whose principle is to cultivate kindness, compassion, joy and selfless giving. With Her strong will to free all living beings from suffering, in 1966, She established a charity organization to help all people as part of Her great mission.

With the basic principles of sincerity, truth, faith and honesty, Master Cheng Yen started to collect charity funds. All the funds from the donators were fully used for charity mission. Buddhist teachings serve as guidance for the path of Tzu Chi members. They implement Dharma in their daily lives sincerely.

From time to time, this charity organization gets more known and the numbers of the members increase significantly. They came from various backgrounds such as from the middle class society and professionals, as well as other people in general. They get to know and enthusiastically help out in Tzu Chi activities. Master Cheng Yen realized that those who are more fortunate financially need an opportunity to donate and do charity works, while people who are less fortunate need help financially. Both need each other. With the principle of "To save the world through compassion", She implements this principle into real action, gathering people with sincere hearts and establishing an organization to cultivate their souls.

Master Cheng Yen

In Her charity missions, Tzu Chi members never discriminate one from another. It has been 50 years since She first established the foundation. It first started with charity missions of humanity, health, education, humanistic culture, international disaster relief, bone marrow, environment friendly activities and community helpers. Through a small step with eight footprints, Great Love has been spread across the ocean, and it became Tzu Chi world.